'They Day': Victorian government backs gender-neutral pronouns

A Victorian government department is promoting the first Wednesday of every month as “They Day”.

UpdatedUpdated 02/08/2018

By
Sophie Gidley

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The Victorian state government has backed a campaign encouraging people to use gender-neutral pronouns, in a move that has attracted criticism.

A video released by the Department of Health and Human Services' (DHSS) Pride Network, a staff initiative and peer-directed volunteer group, has highlighted how the pronouns "they" and "them" are more inclusive than "gendered" language such as "he" and "she".

The video was produced as part of the department's "They Day” - an opportunity for staff who use gender-neutral pronouns to talk with their colleagues about their experiences.

But the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has spoken out against the campaign, describing it as an "ideological agenda" being forced on employees.

Dr Son Vivienne, Nicole Lord and Jack Metcalfe all feature in the campaign video.

YouTube/Pride Network

A DHSS spokeswoman defended the initiative, telling SBS News it was "proud to be an inclusive workplace".

In the video, Dr Son Vivienne, a post-doctoral research fellow at RMIT University, said the campaign would benefit everyone.

“For me, I feel happy when people refer to me as ‘they’ because it feels true to myself," they said.

“I think we can all benefit from using gender-neutral pronouns. I think the space to imagine yourself without the constrictions of either masculinity or femininity are huge.

"For children, in particular, the potential to grow and be rich and complex people who are different selves on different days is also one of the things I like about ‘they’.”

Jack Metcalfe, DHSS grants and policy officer, said in the video: “It gives people an opportunity to self-define and articulate how they want to be referred to and make space so their pronouns are legitimate and respected.”